Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the October 10, 2023 meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council.
1) Community Candlelight Vigil in Support of Israel: Mayor Foster and members of Council expressed their appreciation for the many Borough residents who attended the candlelight vigil on Monday, October 9th in support of the people of Israel. This non-political event held at the Community Center featured a moment of silence for the victims, the recitation of chapters of psalms led by Congregational Rabbis, a prayer for the welfare of the people of Israel, and a recitation of the Star Spangled Banner and the Hatikvah, led by students from the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva in Edison.
2) COVID Vaccination: Council President Hersh reminded residents of the importance of staying current with the COVID-19 vaccine in advance of the upcoming winter season. Nearly everyone over 6 months of age is eligible for a vaccine, covered at no cost for most individuals living in the U.S. through their private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. If you are uninsured or if your plan does not cover the cost of the updated vaccine, visit vaccines.gov to find healthcare providers, federally supported health centers, and retail pharmacy chains participating in the Bridge Access Program to get a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.
3) Public Info Session on Upper Raritan “Road Diet”: The NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is hosting a Virtual Public Information Center now through October 16th to collect comments on their concept plan to change the traffic flow along Raritan Avenue (NJ 27) between North 8th & Brookhill Avenues. Residents are encouraged to visit www.route27highlandpark.com to view a 10-minute video that provides background on the project and to leave comments, including concerns on the concept plan itself and the timeline for the project.
4) Library Roof Bond Ordinance: An ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds in the amount of $380,000 to fund additional architectural design and mechanical engineering work and capital improvements related to the Highland Park Public Library’s roof was introduced. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 24th at 7 p.m. prior to the vote on adoption. The previously adopted capital ordinance in the amount of $215,000 was rescinded by resolution at the same meeting.
5) Community Solar Program: Borough Council authorized an agreement with Gabel Associates to develop and manage a Community Solar Program that would benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Community Solar brings the benefits of solar energy to households that may not be able to install their own solar panels for a variety of reasons, such as financial limitations or lack of a suitable rooftop. As a next step, the Borough will work with Gabel Associates to draft and issue a Request for Proposals from qualified solar developers. Once selected, the team will submit a formal application to the NJ Board of Public Utilities to get approval to participate in the program.
If you’re interested in watching the October 10th Mayor and Council meeting, go to the HPTV Youtube channel where the video of the meeting will be posted in its entirety. The next meeting of Mayor and Council is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m.
